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Greg Auman
NFC South Reporter
BALTIMORE — This was correctly billed as Patrick Mahomes vs. Lamar Jackson, the reigning and likely next NFL MVPs, two of the most dangerous, electric playmakers in today’s game.
Just the same, the Chiefs are heading to another Super Bowl and the Ravens are heading home because Kansas City’s defense stole the spotlight and won the game Sunday, forcing three turnovers in a 17-10 win in the AFC Championship Game.
The unsung hero, posing in the locker room with the Lamar Hunt Trophy and his proud players, was a 64-year-old man who hasn’t been mentioned for any head coaching jobs and who went 11-41 as a head coach and just pulled off a masterpiece.
That hero is Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
“In Spags we trust,” said safety Justin Reid, and the Chiefs wore shirts saying just that as they celebrated in the locker room. “Spags put together a hell of a game plan. He has such a feel for the game, when to call pressure, when to fake a pressure and have us drop in coverage. It’s big-time plays in the moments we needed them the most.”
Baltimore tied for the best turnover margin in the league in 2023, finishing at plus-12, and yet the Ravens were minus-3 Sunday, matching the best turnover margin in any conference championship game in the past eight years, and the best in the last 19 Chiefs playoff games. Player after player cited Spagnuolo, who redirected any praise to his staff and his team.
“This is the highest group of cerebral, passionate football players I’ve ever had,” Spagnuolo said. “Every one of them, to a man, loves ball and is really smart about how they play, and that makes a lot of difference.”
Let’s face it: The defense hasn’t done a ton of heavy lifting in the Mahomes era. In five previous conference championship games with him, Kansas City has given up at least 20 points and an average of 26.4 points; in three Super Bowls, at least 20 in each and an average of 28.7…
Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/how-chiefs-defense-shut-down-ravens-qb-lamar-jackson-in-afc-title-game
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Publish date : 2024-01-29 03:04:17
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